Joining a BIF

Wait for a post that says NBO (new beer offering) that will be signups

 

Before joining a BIF, it might be a good idea to start with small trades, so you'll learn the process of shipping beers. I'm assuming since I didn't see trades on your profile, you're new to trading as well. Also, many BIFs will require some experience in trading and/or BIFs. Be on the lookout for "BIFs for noobs" as they are called here for beginners.

Here's a very useful site to read up on the process, packing, acronyms, etc. - http://alewatcher.blogspot.com/2010/11/new-trader-tips.html

 

im in the mood for a new BIF soon, its been a little while. Comon NBOs!

I may just have to create one! maybe a small format only or something.

OP keep watching this forum they come up. Also its good to have a good trading backgound, most people do their research well, its good to have trade history

 

OP. Completed my first trade not too long ago and was an awesome experience. I hope your first trade goes as well as mine did!

 

Not tryin to hijack this thread how does one start to trade with not a lot of things to offer?

 

I'm sure plenty of more experienced BAs, both in duration and number of trades, will chime in, but as someone who was in the exact same boat as you about 1 year ago, I have a few pieces of advice.

Firstly, don't go into your first trade or five looking to land something huge. Trade local good shelf beers for you for local good shelf beers for your trading partner. (Before you trade, be sure to check the bad trader list. It won't guarantee you not getting ripped off, but it will definitely help to reduce the chances.) To help with this, maybe look around the site (do a search for a beer name/check the ISO:FT thread) for a beer that is readily available near you but is well-liked by folks that can't regularly get it. Set up a few trades like this, just to become familiar with the process of packing a box for trade/finding out whether you're doing it right or not. (You'll know if the contents of your box arrive safely, no matter the condition of the box itself.) Once you've done a few trades, you'll have some "references" for joining a BIF/trading with more established partners. Oh, and just to beef up your trade numbers, you can look for a tasting and maybe try to trade someone there, though if everyone is local and all you can trade are locals, it may prove a bit tough.

After you've gotten used to the experience of trading, if you're looking to beef up your trades, but don't feel you've got a lot of big boys/names with which to attract people, and you don't have the time/money to attend releases or don't get a lot of big names near you/can't afford them, another option is trading a growler of beer. You'll find that, especially if you're near a brewery (though it isn't a necessity, just better opportunity), you can get some more rarely traded beers than just in bottles. (I just sent my first growler this week. It arrived safely, but I can tell you, I was so worried, I'd done weeks, if not months, of reading the hint threads on here and just generally googling for things like "trade growler of beer", "taping a growler", etc. And then, even though I may have gone overboard/spent too much money, I packed the HELL out of that bad boy.) Also, I followed a lot of local places on Twitter to find out about releases/when they got something new in so I had a chance to get something more "rare". I picked up a case of beers last fall that were out of the PNW, but didn't much get around many states around me. Ended up scoring some beers much closer, but that I'd never ever see because I was able to trade those PNW beers to someone who'd never see them near him. (Oh, and seekabrew.com will definitely become a friend.) If you have any friends/relatives traveling (driving; it's rough to ask them to pack it for a flight if they're not used to that), if they don't mind, ask them to pick up a six pack of beers where they're headed. It'll give you a bit more trade ammunition. (If YOU are the one traveling, it's your DUTY to do so, not only for you to drink, but to have some good trade bait.)

After a few trades, I started going to more "local" (in-state) releases. Made a lot of good friends, or at the very least friendly acquaintances, started picking up more tradable beers, and was able to attract more trades, especially for beers that I felt were more rare. (Everyone is going to see some beers as more desirable than other because of their ability to get them, whether through trade or by purchasing said beers themselves.)

The last thing is, don't worry too much. Start out doing the locals for locals. After a few, try to step it up. If you haven't been able to find rarer beers, try offering a ton of a good shelf beer near you for one of what someone is offering/what you want The worst you can do is inquire and have them tell you no. Every once in a blue moon, someone will laugh at your offer because they're experienced and know that the trade is not "in your league". But by and large, there are a ton of great people on here that, through their kindness, have been a sensei of BA and shown me what it takes to be considered a good trader/BIF or LIF member/Beer Adovcate. I'd like to think I haven't disappointed.

Lastly, remember, it's just beer. And if you're a good BA, your beer karma will eventually pay off for you. (Can't tell you all the amazing things BAs have done for me in trades, BIFs/LIFs, and at release/tastings and I hope that others will, if not already then eventually, say the same about me.)

Like I said, other, more experienced BAs will chime in, but because it was so recent and fresh in my memory, I thought I'd share. And now I must go get ready, so let me end this diatribe with "good luck".

 

^^^ Thank you for your input. it helps a lot

 

You're very welcome. It wasn't long ago I had those same questions. (As I'm sure most did when they thought about getting started.) Every piece of information you can get in your arsenal helps to empower you to get that first trade done. Once you've successfully completed your first trade and have that confidence, there's not much holding you back beyond the acquisition of more beers to trade.

Also, regarding packing, you'll find all different kinds of resources/opinions on packing. Being a highly paranoid/cautious person, I'm sure many folks, with whom I've traded, would tell you I may overpack/overpay for shipping. That said, the relative piece of mind I have (I say relative because we all hear horror stories, even if things were superbly packed, though I don't know that damaged packages and incredible packing are often paired together) that my bottles will make it intact is good. I still can't wait for that delivery confirmation and breathe a sigh of relief when it gets there, but, knock on wood, I've never had a bottle damaged in transit. (That said, despite all the different types of packing I've received as well, never had a bottle I've received damaged in transit either, at least not because of packing. I think the temperature may have caused one cap seal to loosen and let beer leak out, though it may have just been a poorly capped bottle. Hence the reason for placing the bottles in ziploc bags and maybe even all bottles in a bag lining the box.) After a couple of trades, you may think you're going overboard and want to cut back/save a few pennies, but I never have. The knowledge (hope?!) that I'll not have to resend beers, especially if they are much more rare/hard to (impossible) get, is very comforting, or at least as comforting as possible until that delivery confirmation arrives.

Any other questions, please fire away. I'm sure others aren't gun shy about helping. Plus, if you do a search on here, or even on google, lots more info will turn up. Best remedy though is to read, do your best (overdo just to be safe), but just pull the trigger and get that first one under your belt.

Good luck/enjoy!

 

You're very welcome. If I can help someone remove some of the hesitation and start trading, as opposed to sitting on the sidelines watching with envy for over year like I did, it's all worth it.

 

How much experience is usually required to get in on a BIF? I have good references, but only one completed trade through BA.

Unfortunately the newbie ones are few and far between... and honestly I worry a bit about getting someone screwed over by someone who is brand new to collecting.

 

There is a stout BIF starting up right now, Noobs required to ship 1 week early.
Go for it and have fun.

http://beeradvocate.com/community/threads/stout-bif-round-ii.126596/

 

this helps for a local to local trade

www.seekabrew.com

 

KevSal, if you do decide to start one up, let me know!

 

If you're nervous about shipping as I was, I sent a couple of small boxes to family members, just to make sure I had my packing up to snuff. And, edhizdeid, if your worried about not having much to offer . . . don't. I would think Pennsylvania has a lot of great brews to offer. Nugget Nectar always seems to get a lot of props in the forums.

 

Don't know where Pennsylvania came from . . .